Cabinet hinges come in a variety of styles and sizes to fit your home. Choosing the right one is important for both function and aesthetics.
Decorative and semi-concealed hinges add a touch of flair to your cabinets. You’ll also find different finishes to match your decor and other hardware.
Butt Hinges
A butt hinge is the traditional, standard type of hinge found on doors, shutters, and other household fixtures. They sit flush when installed and have solid construction, making them a great choice for many projects. They are available in a variety of sizes and plated finishes to suit any project. Traditional butt hinges have a large knuckle that allows them to support heavier objects than other types of hinges. This is important when selecting a hinge for heavy-duty applications such as entry doors.
Butt hinges are easy to install and require no special tools or skills to fit. They are also economical and designed to withstand a range of working conditions such as corrosion. They are durable and have good impact resistance, making them a good option for external applications such as patio doors or storm doors.
To properly fit a butt hinge, you must first measure the size of each plate and mark the locations for the screw holes. After the plates are fitted, you can drill through them to fasten the hinges. It’s best to use high-quality screws to ensure that the hinges remain in place and that they are secure.
It’s also important to consider how far you want the door to be able to open before you select a hinge. Some hinges have a limited degree of opening, while others can be adjusted to offer unlimited positions.
Another factor to keep in mind is whether you need a quiet hinge or one that will be able to tolerate vibrations. A noisy hinge will create a lot of noise when the door is opened or closed. A quiet hinge will eliminate this problem and allow you to open and close your doors without making a loud racket. A quiet hinge will also be able to tolerate vibrations better than a noisy one, so it’s a good idea to choose this type when you need to install a door that will encounter a lot of traffic. This type of hinge is often made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), an excellent material for resisting vibrations and keeping the hinge quiet.
Flush Hinges
Designed to sit as close to the surface of the wood as possible flush hinges are ideal for small doors or furniture where the door is not thick enough to support a butt hinge. They do not require a recess to be cut, unlike other hinges, and are available in a number of finishes to suit your décor.
Like a butt hinge, they consist of two pivoting plates whose interlocking fingers form a barrel shape and are held together by a pin; however, one plate of the hinge is fixed to the door whilst the other is mounted to the cabinet. Like all cabinet hinges, they are available in various lengths to accommodate different door sizes and a choice of finish, including brass and stainless steel.
If you are going to use this type of hinge for a cupboard or box lid, then it is essential that you measure the thickness of the door and the frame to ensure they will fit correctly with the right amount of clearance. The correct amount of clearance will give the item a better appearance and allow it to be opened and closed effortlessly without any binding or catching.
Once you have chosen your hinges and marked out the positions of their fastening holes (using a pencil), hold them carefully against the required surfaces. Ensure that they are flat and parallel with the edge of the surface to be fitted; this can be checked using a set square. Once you are happy with the positioning of the guidance holes take an appropriate size drill bit and drill a guide hole in which your screw will follow. Reapply the hinge in line with these guidance holes and fasten securely using screws the hinge to the desired surface.
When installing any hinges, it is important to remember that the holes need to be deep enough to ensure that the screw does not cause damage to the hinge or the wood. It is also essential to check that the correct type of screws are used. Using the wrong type of screw could result in the hinge not holding or the screws being stripped over time.
Decorative Hinges
Hinges for cabinet doors are an important part of your cabinets' overall design and function. With so many options available, knowing what you need and what will look best can be difficult. This guide will help you narrow down your options and find the perfect hinge for your project.
Hinges come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they can be used for either functional or decorative purposes. Some of the most common types of hinges are H-hinges, barrel hinges, no-mortise hinges, and lift-off hinges. Each type of hinge works differently and has its own unique appearance.
H-hinges are named for their shape, which looks like the letter H. They are surface-fitted and have a variety of different variations to suit all kinds of applications, from small doors to full-size cabinet doors in traditional properties. They are also sometimes used as decorative hinges for a more attractive look in kitchens, home theaters, and other spaces.
Barrel hinges are tubular and barrel-shaped, which makes them nearly invisible when the door is closed. These are popular because they offer a sleek, modern aesthetic that many homeowners find appealing. Like other hidden hinges, barrel hinges are a great option for those who want a clean and minimalist look.
No-mortise hinges are similar to butt hinges but do not require a mortise hole to be installed. They are a great option for people who want to install a hidden hinge but don’t have the time or tools to cut a mortise. No-mortise hinges work by folding within themselves when the door is closed, which minimizes the gap between the frame and the edge of the door.
Lastly, lift-off hinges are a type of concealed hinge that can be used with both frameless and inset cabinetry. They can be mounted with or without a back plate and are available in a wide range of weight-bearing capacities. They are easy to fit and are often used in homes that want a more modern look or for those who do not have the space to accommodate a fully concealed hinge.
Semi-Concealed Hinges
Cabinet hinges are a big part of your cabinets' overall look. The type you choose plays a large role in whether your cabinets are more traditional or contemporary. Choosing the right hinge for your project should be easy once you know what kind of cabinet door you have. If you have overlay cabinet doors, you will need to use a concealed hinge that offers a wide angle of swing to ensure the door opens easily without hitting the frame or other interior components.
Semi-concealed hinges are available in various overlay options, depending on how much of the door overlaps the face of the cabinet frame. Typically, they offer the same benefits of European hinges - like self-closing action and clean lines - but at a lower price point. Generally used on face-frame cabinets, these hinges are partially visible at the door joint to provide a decorative accent.
If you decide to go with this type of hinge, you will need to use a concealed cabinet hinge jig to help you drill the correct cup hole in the door for the hinge flange. This jig helps you to drill a flat-bottomed hole in the door to accept the hinge cup. Once the hole is drilled, you can install the hinge cup by hand.
Some manufacturers offer a height adjustment feature for their concealed hinges for your convenience. Using this feature, you can change the hinge's position in the vertical direction to ensure the top and bottom of your cabinet doors match up properly with the edges of the cabinet box. This feature is especially useful for older cabinets that have been installed with different hinges and need a little adjustment to close the doors properly.
If you do not have a hinge with this feature, you will need to loosen the fixing screws on the mounting plate to move the mounting plate up or down in relation to the frame and door. If you need to adjust the hinge in this way, make sure you do not over-tighten the screw, which can damage the surface of the hinge.
